NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 4/2/16 - 4/3/16

New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

Want to submit an event? Use our event submission form.

Saturday, April 2 - Farmingdale, Monmouth County
Allaire Village's Opening Weekend
Children Friendly Site

Beginning Saturday, the Historic Village at Allaire will be open 11:00 am - 4:00 pm every Saturday and Sunday until mid-December! All of the homes and craft shops will be open for tours and craft demonstrations! There will be a special Evening Lantern Tour from 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm exploring the sights and sounds of the village at night. Pre-registration is required. Tickets are $10 per person. Admission is free for opening day.

The Historic Village at Allaire is located at 4263 Atlantic Avenue, Farmingdale, NJ. For more information, contact the Allaire Village office during business hours, Monday through Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, at 732-919-3500 or visit www.allairevillage.org.

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Saturday, April 2 - Hancock's Bridge, Salem County
Hancock House Massacre Commemoration
Children Friendly Event

Bi-annual Hancock House Massacre Commemoration. Come enjoy tours of the Hancock House historical site, enjoy reenactments, and this year's guest speaker is award winning NJ Historian Michael Adelberg who will be speaking on "The Foraging Wars of NJ" at 10:00am. The event runs from 10:00 am - 3:30 pm. The Hancock House Historical Site is located on Front Street in Hancock's Bridge NJ. For more information, call 856-935-4343 or visit www.facebook.com/FOHHNJ or www.fohh.20fr.com.

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Saturday, April 2 - Westampton, Burlington County
"Everything Grows at Peachfield"
Children Friendly Event

Next in our series, "Everything Grows at Peachfield" is making dyes from Peachfield's plants and berries. Bring color to your world the Colonial way by harvesting dye materials such as Lily of the Valley, acorns, black walnuts and pokeberries. Then cook your harvest in water over an open pit fire. Newly sheared sheep's wool will then be dyed in these naturally brewed colors.

Activities begin at 11:00 am and will last about an hour. Cost is $5.00 per family. Reservations are required. Peachfield is located at 180 Burrs Road, Westampton, NJ. For more information and to register, call 609-267-6996, e-mail colonialdamesnj@comcast.net, or visit www.colonialdamesnj.org.

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Saturday, April 2 - Morristown, Morris County
Nature Hike: Present & Past
Children Friendly Event

Join the staff of the Great Swamp Watershed Association and Morristown NHP for a joint nature hike through Jockey Hollow. Learn about the contrasting viewpoints on nature between today and our 18th century ancestors. Hike lasts from 10:00 am - 12:00 noon. Meet at the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center, 580 Tempe Wick Road, Morristown NJ (address is approximate). Hike is FREE of charge. No reservations necessary. For more information, call 973-543-4030 or visit www.nps.gov/morr.

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Saturday, April 2 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County
Lambing
Children Friendly Event and Site

Twin lambs, newly hatched chicks, and baby pigs are among the dozens of new faces you will find at Howell Living History Farm these days, as well as a few colonies of bees.

Visitors to the 130-acre working farm will be able to meet these animals up close during the farm’s annual Lambing Day. Throughout the day, farmers will be present to introduce visitors to babies born this spring, as well as to other animals.  Visitors to the main barn will be able to meet the farm’s workhorses and oxen. Animal visiting hours are 11:00 am - 3:00 pm.

Howell Living Farm represents typical farm life between 1890 and 1910. The farm is operated by the Mercer County Parks Commission. It is located at 70 Wooden's Lane, Lambertville, NJ. For more information. call 609-737-3299 or visit www.howellfarm.org.

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Saturday, April 2 - Washington Township, Burlington County
Samuel Still Comes to Batsto
Children Friendly Site

As part of historic Batsto Village’s ongoing Second Saturday speaker series, the Batsto Citizens Committee, Inc. is pleased to announce the return of Samuel Still.

Mr. Still will present the “Still Family Historical Significance to South Jersey and the Pinelands” on Saturday in the Batsto Visitors Center auditorium beginning at 1:00 pm. Samuel Still is the third great grandson of Levin and Charity Still. His third great-grandparents were the parents to William Still who proclaimed him as “The Father of the Underground Railroad” by the New York Times in 1902.

Parking is free and there is a $2.00 per person admission fee. Batsto mansion tours are also being conducted beginning at 10:00 am and conclude at 3:00 pm. The Nature Center will be open with science and nature exhibits and special activities for children. Batsto Village is located in Wharton State Forest in Burlington County, South Jersey approximately seven miles east of Hammonton on Route 542 and 15 miles west of Exit 50 of the Garden State Parkway. For more information, call 609-561-0024 or visit www.batstovillage.org.

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Saturday, April 2 - Freehold, Monmouth County
Seminar on Chairmaking in Monmouth County

On Saturday, Monmouth County Historical Association will hold a day-long seminar on eighteenth century chairmaking in Monmouth County. The program will be led by Joseph W. Hammond, Curator of Museum Collections for the Association.

Focus will be placed on locally produced bannister-back, fiddle-back and slat-back chairs of several different types. Approximately twenty examples with histories of ownership among the old families of Monmouth County will be studied in detail. They will be drawn from the Association's extensive collection of documented local furniture, and also from private collections.

Chairs that have been attributed since the 1930s to the Maps family of West Long Branch will be closely scrutinized. That investigation will take advantage of a series of photographs taken about 1933 of many chairs still owned at the time by Maps descendants. Using a variety of analytical techniques, participants will be asked to sort all the chairs on display into groups possibly attributable to individual craftsmen even though their names are not at present known.

The seminar, to be held at the Association's museum at 70 Court Street in Freehold and will begin at 10:30 am and end at 3:00 pm. The program will be of interest to serious collectors and students of New Jersey furniture, as well as those individuals who wish to learn more about the techniques of furniture connoisseurship. Because this is a very hands-on session involving close examination of authentic eighteenth century chairs, registration will be limited to fifteen participants.

Lunch and beverages will be served. Advance registration required. $75 per person. To make your reservation call 732-462-1466 x11 or email pgithens@monmouthhistory.org. For more information, visit www.monmouthhistory.org.

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Saturday, April 2 - Browns Mills, Burlington County
Whitesbog Blueberry Symposium

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Saturday, April 2 - Burlington, Burlington County
Spring Fling!
Children Friendly Event

Celebrate the warm weather with the Burlington County Historical Society! Meet the fuzzy friends of the 4-H Club "Crazy Critters," including rabbits, guinea pigs, and feathered friends. Decorate a real egg for you to take home. Get a chance to explore our colonial playhouse. Make spring themed crafts and more!

Program runs from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. $5 per child. Children under 2 and adults are FREE. Program held at the Burlington County Historical Society. Entrances to the building can be found on 457 High Street and 454 Lawrence Street, Burlington, NJ. Registration strongly suggested. Call 609-386-4773 or burlcohistsocprograms@verizon.net to register.

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Saturday, April 2 - Franklin Township, Somerset County
Women's Roles in the 18th Century

A brief history of 18th-century women and their rolls as mothers, businesswomen, soldiers and wives, with a discussion of women's rights and limitations during the era, presented by Diane Lingsch in the Dutch Barn at Rockingham at 1:30 pm.

Rockingham is located at 84 Laurel Avenue (Rte. 603) in Franklin Township, 1 mile north of Rte. 27 in Kingston, and 1 mile south of Rte. 518 in Rocky Hill. For more information, call 609-683-7132 or visit www.rockingham.net.

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Sunday, April 3 - Princeton, Mercer County

Historic Princeton Walking Tour

Enjoy a 1.9 mile, two-hour walk around downtown Princeton and the University campus as you learn about historic sites in the area, including Bainbridge House, Nassau Hall, the University Chapel, and Palmer Square. The early history of Princeton, the founding of the University, and the American Revolution are just some of the stories from Princeton’s history that you will learn on your tour.

Admission: $7 per adult; $4 children ages 6 to 12; free for children age 5 and under. Tours begin in front of the Bainbridge House, 158 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ. Tour begins at 2:00 pm and ends at 4:00 pm. Walk up ticket sales are cash only; guides cannot provide change. Space is limited. For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-921-6748 or visit www.princetonhistory.org.

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Sunday, April 3 - Montclair, Essex County
Historic House Tour: Crane House/YWCA and Sunday Spotlight
Children Friendly Site

Step back through over 200 years of American history at Montclair's historic properties at 108 Orange Road. Visit the reinterpreted Crane House to reflect the YWCA period from 1920 - 1965, check out the farm, and meet the chickens. The site is open from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and students with valid ID, and $4 for children; under 2 free.

For more information, call 973-744-1796, e-mail mail@montclairhistorical.org, or visit www.montclairhistorical.org.

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Sunday, April 3 - Manville, Somerset County
Delaware and Raritan Canal Narrated Bus Tours
Family Friendly Tour

On Sunday, join Linda and Bob Barth, authors and canal enthusiasts, on a tour of one of Somerset County's historic treasures. You'll visit locks, bridges, and other structures along the canal and learn how it was built by local workers and immigrants.

This tour will visit some of the picturesque villages that grew up alongside the canal. Learn about the many industries that developed along its route. This is a perfect outing and a unique educational experience for the entire family.

The bus tours will leave from the parking lot of the former Rhythms restaurant, 729 South Main Street (Route 533), Manville, NJ at the corner of the Weston Canal Causeway (Route 623)/Wilhousky Street. The cost is $20 and reservations are required. To reserve your place, please call 732-356-8856 or visit www.heritagetrail.org. Please indicate your choice of tours: 10:00 am or 2:00 pm.

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Sunday, April 3 - Jefferson Township, Morris County
Open House

The Jefferson Township Museum, also known as the George Chamberlin House, will have an open house on Sunday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Learn about the Jefferson Township Historical Society. Costumed docents will be available to talk about this Victorian home. The theme of this month's exhibit is "Feathers to Flight," dedicated to the memory of member Marilyn Reitzel. Birds of all feathers will be everywhere reflecting Marilyn's love of their many species. Also included will be a collection of decoys, vintage Audubon books, feathered jewelry, and bird research books. Admission is free.

The Jefferson Township Museum is located at 315 Dover-Milton Road, Jefferson Township, NJ. Visit Miss Elizabeth's Shoppe located in the original kitchen of the museum, where small antiques, collectibles, handmade, handcrafted and seasonal items will be offered for sale. For further information, call 973-697-0258 or visit www.jthistoricalsociety.org.

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Sunday, April 3 - Piscataway, Middlesex County
Piscataway's 350th Birthday!
Children Friendly Event

Join us to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the founding of Piscataway. At this event for all ages we will create Native American and Colonial crafts, learn about Piscataway's beginnings, and have fun! We will also toast Piscataway with Colonial tea and a birthday cake. The program will be held from 2:00 - 4:00 pm at Kennedy Library, 500 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ. For more information, call 732-752-1166 or visit www.piscatawaylibrary.org.

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Sunday, April 3 - South River, Middlesex County
Open House

Stop by the South River Historical & Preservation Society on Sunday from 1:30 - 3:30 pm and view exhibits on all aspects of Borough history including: schools; churches and houses of worship; local businesses and organizations; daily life; events and celebrations; and more. While you are there, see the cemetery located behind the building, ask questions, drop off donations, or exchange hometown stories with the docents. The museum is located at 64-66 Main Street, South River. For more information, visit http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~njsrhps/museum.html.

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Sunday, April 3 - Walpack Center, Sussex County
Walpack Historical Society Hike

On Sunday, the Walpack Historical Society will sponsor a hike in honor of the National Park Service's 100th anniversary, celebrated this year. The hike will be co-led by Marie Liu and Dawn J. Benko. Marie Liu has been designated "Artist in the Park" for 2015-2016 by the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Marie and Dawn, a photographer, co-wrote A Guide to Waterfalls Along the Upper Delaware River. The book will be available for sale at Walpack Center before the hike.

The hike is a 3-mile loop along the Tumbling Waters Trail at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC), a nonprofit organization located in Dingmans Ferry, PA. PEEC has been in existence since 1972. Its mission is to advance environmental education, sustainable living, and appreciation for nature through hands-on experience in a national park. PEEC and the Walpack Historical Society are partners with the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (NRA).

Participants for the hike will gather at the Rosenkrans Museum, Main Street, Walpack Center, NJ within the Delaware Water Gap NRA at 11:00 am and carpool to PEEC. The hike is rated Moderate. It is over rocky terrain and several steep slopes. This is a trail for true hikers. At a moderate pace it could take 4 hours to hike. All PEEC facilities and trails will be open to the group, including self-guided hikes on Two Ponds Trail, rated Easy and Scenic Gorge Trail, rated easy/moderate. Sturdy footwear, insect repellent, drinking water, a hiking staff and lunch or snack are suggested. For further information, call the Walpack Historical Society at 973-948-4903.

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Sunday, April 3 - Westampton, Burlington County
Caroline Herschel, 18th-Century Astronomer

Caroline Lucretia Herschel was the first female astronomer to discover a comet. She would go on to discover seven more. Her record held for 200 years. K. Lynn King portrays Herschel and will relate this and other fascinating stories of this most unusual lady, who broke the gender barrier and became the first salaried female astronomer.

Admission is $10 per person; Friends of Peachfield admitted free of charge. Seating is limited; prepaid reservations are required to guarantee seating. Peachfield is located at 180 Burrs Road, Westampton, NJ. For more information and to register, call 609-267-6996, e-mail colonialdamesnj@comcast.net, or visit www.colonialdamesnj.org.

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Sunday, April 3 - Hoboken, Hudson County
Children's Programs at the Fire Department Museum
Children Friendly Event

The Hoboken Historical Museum is pleased to announce an expansion of its popular Storytime program to include a monthly "Fire Department Museum Storytime," on the first Sunday of each month from April through November. In addition, the museum's Education Curator, Dr. Razel Solow, has designed two age-appropriate "Learn About" sessions at the Fire Department Museum on the third Sunday of every month through November, led by Maria Lara. Both programs are made possible through the generous support of two local organizations: The Hoboken Family Alliance and Party with Purpose.

The Fire Department Museum Storytime presents stories and sing-alongs for children ages 2 - 5 years old. It will take place at noon on the first Sunday of each month, starting April 3, and continuing on May 1, June 5, July 3, August 7, September 4, October 2, and November 6. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, and strollers must be parked outside the Museum.

The "Learn About" series will offer two sessions on the third Sunday of each month. At 3:00 - 3:20 pm, children ages 2 - 3 years old are invited to learn all about the Fire Department Museum, and older children ages 4 - 6 years old are invited at 3:30 - 4:00 pm. Children must be accompanied by an adult and registration for these sessions is required. 

The Fire Department Museum is located at 213 Bloomfield Street, Hoboken, NJ. For more information, visit www.hobokenmuseum.org.

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Sunday, April 3 - Pennsauken, Camden County
Open House
Children Friendly Site

The Pennsauken Historical Society will kick off its 2016 Season with its first Open House of the Year. The 305 year old Burrough-Dover House will be open for tours every first Sunday, from April to December, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm beginning Sunday, April 3, 2016. The Nostalgia Museum located in the basement of the historic house will also be open for tours. Admission is free, and there is ample free parking in the adjacent lot. The Burrough-Dover House is located at 9201 Burrough Dover Lane, Pennsauken, NJ. for more information, visit www.facebook.com/PennsaukenHistoricalSociety.

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Sunday, April 3 - Maplewood, Essex County
Asher B. Durand’s Life in Art: From Jefferson Village to Maplewood

Join Durand-Hedden House & Garden on Sunday, April 3, at 2pm for an illustrated lecture, Asher B. Durand’s Life in Art: From Jefferson Village to Maplewood. The talk will be presented by a well-known Durand expert Dr. Linda S. Ferber, Senior Art Historian and Museum Director Emerita at the New-York Historical Society and will provide insights into the life and work of a native son of Maplewood, Asher B. Durand (1796-1886), who became one of the most important artists of the 19th century. The event will be held at The Woodland, 60 Woodland Road, Maplewood. Following the lecture, the audience is invited to the Durand-Hedden House at 523 Ridgewood Road for refreshments and to view the House and collection.

Life, contributions, and place in the history of American art 
Artist Asher B. Durand led a long and extraordinary life. He was born in rural New Jersey when George Washington was still president. He died in New Jersey the year of the first exhibition of French Impressionism in America. During his multi-faceted six-decade-long career, Durand truly lived a life in art as an engraver and then as a painter, first of portraits and ultimately of landscape. In all three endeavors - engraving, portraiture, and landscape painting - Durand played a major role in the art of his time by creating resonant images that contributed to an emerging American national and cultural identity. 

Speaker Dr. Linda S. Ferber
For this event, the Durand-Hedden House is thrilled to host prominent art historian and Durand expert, Dr. Linda S. Ferber.  In 2007, Dr. Ferber organized the first major retrospective in thirty-five years devoted to Durand’s career: Kindred Spirits: Asher B Durand and the American Landscape for the Brooklyn Museum where she had been the Andrew Mellon Curator of American Art and Chief Curator from 1970 to 2005. Most recently, from 2005 until the end of 2013, she served as Vice President and Museum Director at the New-York Historical Society (now Emerita.) In 2002, she received the Lawrence A. Fleishman Award for Scholarly Excellence from the Archives of American Art.  Dr. Ferber has organized exhibitions, published, taught and lectured widely on a variety of topics in American art history in addition to Asher B. Durand and the Hudson River School including William Trost Richards, the American Pre-Raphaelites, the American Watercolor Movement, The Eight and the Ashcan School, and Albert Bierstadt. At the New-York Historical Society, Dr. Ferber launched Sharing an American Treasure, a highly successful traveling exhibition program drawn from the Society’s own rich collections. She was awarded the 2010 Henry Allen Moe Prize for Catalogues of Distinction in the Arts for her book, The Hudson River School: Nature and the American Vision. That exhibition, highlighting the Society’s landscape collections, is still traveling. In 2011, she organized with guest curator Dr. Barbara Gallati the traveling exhibition highlighting the N-YHS’s rich trove of 19th-century narrative paintings titled: Making American Taste: Narrative Art for a New Democracy. Her exhibition and publication, The Coast & the Sea: Marine and Maritime Art in America, debuted at the Society of the Four Arts in Palm Beach in 2013 and has traveled to a number of other venues. While Dr. Ferber maintains an association with the Society, she is also active as an independent curator and art historian. Current projects include serving as guest curator for an exhibition at the New York Botanical Gardens, opening May 14, 2016, titled Impressionism: American Gardens on Canvas and at the National Gallery of Art, an exhibition about the American Pre-Raphaelites.

Durand-Hedden House is dedicated to telling the history of the development of Maplewood and the surrounding area in new and engaging ways. It is located in Grasmere Park at 523 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood, NJ. For more information, call 973-763-7712 or visit www.durandhedden.org.

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Sunday, April 3 - through April 30, 2016 - Westfield, Union County
Exhibit Opening

The Presbyterian Church in Westfield has been an integral part of our history since its early beginnings. The Westfield Historical Society will open its new exhibit, "A Visual  Walk Through Time of the Presbyterian Church" on Sunday, from 1:00 - 3:00 pm at the Reeve History & Cultural Resource Center, 314 Mountain Avenue, Westfield NJ.

Did you know the Presbyterian Church in Westfield (PCW) is the ONLY church in the history of the United States that held a public trial where a man was tried by a jury, and convicted of murder? Did you know that a famous British General camped with hundreds of troops during the Revolutionary War in the old sanctuary? How could the bell, located in the belfry of the church and heard ringing loudly each Sunday morning, have been stolen by the British?  Did you see the church when it was cut in half? The Presbyterian Church in Westfield and the Burial Grounds of the West Fields of Elizabethtown have played an important role in the community from its earliest foundations right up to the present day. Come by the Reeve House on April 3 to learn the rest of the stories and more!

The exhibit, researched by local volunteers Nancy Cunliffe and Carey Golden, will feature period artifacts and a "visual" tour of the rich history that began in a meetinghouse made of logs and progressed through the renovations and acquisitions that have transformed this place of worship and its cemetery into historical landmarks in Westfield today. 

For more information, call 908-654-1794 or visit www.westfieldhistoricalsociety.org.

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Sunday, April 3 - Holmdel, Monmouth County
Turn of the Nineteenth Century Music
Children Friendly Event and Site

On Sunday, visit Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel to take a step back in time to join music man Rich Marzec as he performs songs on the piano from the turn of the century. This free event runs from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. Historic Longstreet Farm is located at 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel, NJ. For more information, call 732-946-3758 or visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.

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Through June 10, 2016 - Woodbury, Gloucester County

Gloucester Abbey: Downton Style Fashions Exhibit

Gloucester Abbey: Downton Style Fashions is currently on display at the exhibit at the Gloucester County Historical Society Museum in Woodbury, New Jersey. The exhibit will conclude on January 6, 2016. This remarkable exhibit features ladies’ fashions from the society's collection from the time period covered by the popular PBS Masterpiece Theater series Downton Abbey. Over 100 vintage dresses/ensembles from the museum’s collection dating from 1910 through the 1930s are showcased, including period wedding gowns. Also on display are ladies accessories, including hats, shoes, purses, jewelry, and lingerie. Don’t miss this fantastic exhibit!

The Gloucester County Historical Society Museum hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm, and the last Sunday of the month from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. Private tours may be booked for days/times other than our regular public hours. Adult admission $5; children 6-18 years $1; children under 6 free. The Gloucester County Historical Society Museum is located at 58 N. Broad Street, Woodbury, NJ 08096. For more information, call 856-848-8531 or visit www.rootsweb.com/~njgchs.

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Through June 26, 2016 - Piscataway, Middlesex County

The Icons of American Culture: History of New Jersey Diners Exhibit

Children Friendly

When was the last time you ate at a diner? If you are like millions of New Jerseyans, the answer is not too long ago. Dubbed “the land of diners,” New Jersey has forged a unique relationship with these casual eateries. Stainless steel, neon, and menus that go on for days are part of the Garden State landscape. Come explore their rich history with us! This seven-room exhibit tells the story of some of the of the Garden State’s most iconic eateries. This exhibit runs from April 12, 2015 - June 26, 2016 and is free of charge.

The exhibit is open Tuesday – Friday from 1:00 – 4:00 pm and Sundays from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. Closed Mondays, Saturdays, and Holidays. The Cornelius Low House Museum is located at 1225 River Road, Piscataway, NJ. For more information, call 732-745-4177 or visit www.co.middlesex.nj.us.

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Through July 9, 2016 - Freehold, Monmouth County

19th Century New Jersey Chairmaking Exhibit

Monmouth County Historical Association's newest exhibition Of the Best Materials and Good Workmanship: 19th Century New Jersey Chairmaking at the Museum at 70 Court Street will remain open through July 9, 2016.

This exhibition explores the diversity of products made by chairmakers in New Jersey from the late 18th century through 1900 and explores four different galleries: the craft of chairmaking, Windsor chairs, common chairs, and factory made chairs. It draws from chairmakers from throughout the Garden State, including a large collection of chairmaking tools, equipment, benches, patterns and stencils collected by William H. MacDonald of Trenton. MacDonald, who had one time worked in Freehold, donated the collection to the Association in the mid and late 20th century. The exhibition represents the first time the entire collection of tools, equipment and patterns have ever been displayed together.

Hammond explained that the name for the exhibition is taken from the language commonly used by New Jersey manufacturers in their newspaper advertisements promoting themselves against craftsmen from New York and Philadelphia.

Many of the items in the exhibition come from throughout the Garden State, from Bergen to Cumberland and Salem counties, and span the era from 1780 to 1900. Some of the items on display are on loan from several different historical societies as well as the Rutgers archives’ special collection and are representative of both local and regional chairmakers.

Of particular interest is one section devoted to the Ware family of Cumberland County, a family that represents a unique chapter in the history of American furniture production. Nineteen members of the family spanning four generations made traditional slat back, rush-seated chairs in the Delaware Valley tradition from the late 18th century to about 1940.

The gallery portraying factory made chairs includes perforated furniture made by Gardener and Company in 1872, a business in Glen Gardner, folding chairs popular on ocean liners dating back as far as 1868 and made by the Collignon Brothers in Closter, in Bergen County, using wood from the sawmill across the Hackensack River from the plant, and the Cooper Chair factory of Bergen, noted for its delicate chairmaking styles.

The Gallery devoted to Windsor chairs includes the earliest known marked Windsor chair, one made by Ezekiah Hughes in Salem County in the 1780s. The exhibition at the Museum displays one of the largest collections of Windsor chairs ever shown.

Monmouth County Historical Association is a private non-profit organization that has been working to preserve history and provide educational opportunities since its founding in 1898. The Historical Association’s Museum and Library is located at 70 Court Street in Freehold, NJ. Museum hours are: Tuesdays - Saturdays 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. The Library is open Wednesdays through Saturdays. For more information about the Association, call 732-462-1466 or visit www.monmouthhistory.org.

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Through August 28, 2016 - Boonton, Morris County
Boonton and the Electronics Industry Exhibit Opening

Our new changing exhibit features the numerous electronics companies that existed in Boonton during the infancy of electronics. Aircraft instrumentation, electronic testing instruments, and radios will be on display. Learn more about Boonton's significant contributions to the electronics industry by visiting us at the historic Dr. John Taylor House in Boonton NJ. The site is open on Sunday from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm. The museum is located at 210 Main Street, Boonton NJ. For more information, call 973-402-8840.




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Through December 31, 2016 - Far Hills, Somerset County
More Than a Game Exhibit at the USGA Museum
Children Friendly

Visitors to the USGA Museum in Far Hills will be surprised to learn that there is much to discover about the game of golf. Originally installed in February of 2014, the exhibit "More Than a Game" focuses on how the creation of African-American golf clubs positively impacted the community, despite the pervasive prejudice and racism of the Jim Crow era. They founded institutions that celebrated the game, and their culture, setting a new standard for what a free and open society could be.

Local schools and youth groups are invited to arrange a field trip to the museum to learn about diversity in golf through the exhibit's centerpiece which is the story of William "Bill" Powell and the Clearview Golf Club. Founded in 1946 in East Canton, Ohio, Clearview is the only public golf course in the United States designed, built, owned, and operated by an African American. Celebrating their 70th anniversary this year, its existence is a testimonial to the vision, determination and integrity of Powell, who overcame numerous obstacles in the pursuit of his dream. Lesson plans are available upon request for teachers and group leaders prior to or following their onsite experience.

Powell's Clearview Golf Club was not the only African-American golf institution founded in this era. The exhibit also honors other clubs that made significant contributions to minority golf including Shady Rest Country Club in Scotch Plains, NJ, home course of John Shippen, the first American and the first African American to play in a U.S. Open Championship in 1896. Also featured are significant trophies from the United Golfers Association and many other various artifacts that celebrate the men and women who made sacrifices in an effort to realize their dream of equality on the greens.

The USGA is one of the world's foremost authorities on research, development and support of sustainable golf course management practices. It serves as a primary steward for the game's history and invests in the development of the game through the delivery of its services and its ongoing "For the Good of the Game" grants program. Additionally, the USGA's Course Rating and Handicap systems are used on six continents in more than 50 countries.

For more information about the museum, this exhibit and field trip opportunities, please contact Kim Gianetti at 908-326-1948 or by email at kgianetti@usga.org. For more information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.

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Some event listings courtesy of the League of Historical Societies of New Jersey